A guide to sales all year long
Did you know that one of the simplest ways to save on groceries and other household goods doesn’t involve clipping coupons or applying online savings codes?
Prices on consumer goods fluctuate but a pattern of revolving sales exist. Sales, coupons and clearance events deliberately coincide with the season (or end-of-season), holidays, new model introductions and nationwide celebrations. The rotation is known in coupon circles as sales cycles. The trends will continue year after year. Purchasing when prices plunge is the foundation of frugality.
Some sales swings don't require a degree in economics to decode.
Fresh peaches and plums will be priced lowest in summer when the harvest is most abundant, obviously. Those deals you see right now on treadmills, fitness apparel and diet bars are perfectly timed to entice resolvers who pledge to shed pounds in the new year. The top television deals will be offered around Black Friday and Super Bowl Sunday.
There are still nuances to this method of savings. Supermarkets and drugstores typically follow an eight- or 12-week sales cycle for most items.
That means if cereal, pasta sauce or cheese is at rock bottom this week, you can expect it to rise and then dip back down in two to three months.
Other cycles run seasonally, annually or biannually. Flour, sugar and other baking products are typically priced lowest just twice a year, before Easter and Christmas. Frozen foods are a steal in March, National Frozen Food Month. Peanut butter prices plummet just before the start of a new school year.
The key is to buy low, use coupons when available and stock up for maximum savings. To help you stretch your purchasing dollars and stock up on must-haves with much less money out of pocket, follow this month-by-month guide.
January
The primary focus this month is on fitness, football and the flu. There will also be a slew of “white sales,” during which retailers reduce the price of towels, bedding sets and sheets. Retailers are also still looking to unload leftover holiday decor and toys.
Top bargains: Exercise equipment, televisions, home organization, linens, cold and flu medications, holiday decor and toys.
Best grocery buys: Diet foods, oatmeal, granola, soup and football party fare.
February
New furniture will hit showroom floors in February so keep your eye out for deals. It’s also National Canned Food Month. There will be sales and copious coupons for canned goods making this an ideal time to stock the pantry.
Top bargains: Televisions, winter apparel and accessories, furniture, football party paper products, cold medicine and Valentine’s Day products after the holiday,
Best grocery buys: Canned goods, breakfast foods (it’s also Hot Breakfast Month) and football party foods.
March
The winter sports season is winding down so retailers will look to move equipment — skis, snowboards, sleds, skates, etc. — to make room for spring inventory. It’s also National Frozen Food Month so expect a flurry of deals on frigid foods.
Top bargains: Winter sports gear and luggage for those spring break getaways.
Best grocery buys: Frozen foods, beer and Irish fare for St. Patrick’s Day, like corned beef and cabbage.
April
The season shifts and so too does time. There will be deals on spring cleaning products and sales on smoke detectors and batteries. Last year, Home Depot hosted a Spring Black Friday Sale. Also, look out for tax-day freebies on and around April 15.
Top bargains: Cleaning products, including vacuums, home improvement tools, spring apparel, smoke detectors, snowblowers and leftover Easter candy and decor.
Best grocery buys: Ham and asparagus, Passover foods, eggs for coloring.
May
Sales blossom this month on flowers and plants for Mom. There will also be great deals on mattresses, furniture and Mexican fare in honor of Cinco de Mayo.
Top bargains: Mattresses, furniture, flowers and plants, spring clothing and appliances as new models hit store floors.
Best grocery buys: Mexican food, grilling meats, seafood and condiments.
June
Camping equipment, coolers, picnic supplies and fishing gear will be on sale, particularly around Father’s Day. As we head outside, retailers focus on the inside and entice shoppers with deals on furniture to drive sales. National Doughnut is in June so expect to nosh on these sugary treats for next to nothing.
Top bargains: Indoor furniture, outdoor gear and toys and lingerie ( Victoria’s Secret typically hosts its popular semiannual sale in June).
Best grocery buys: Frozen summer treats, barbecue essentials, fresh produce.
July
Amazon’s popular Prime Day could return this month (it was pushed back in 2020 because of the pandemic). If that's the case, you can expect a bevy of Black Friday and Christmas in July sales from retailers looking to compete. It’s also a good time to stock up on patriotic items re
duced after the Fourth of July.
Top bargains: Black Fridaylike priced electronics, indoor furniture, camping supplies and summer apparel.
Best grocery buys: Ice cream (it’s National Ice Cream Month), condiments, hot dogs.
August
Back-to-school sales are in full swing so expect great deals on supplies, computers, dorm room furniture and decor. According to auto industry experts at Edmunds, dealers typically reduce outgoing model-year vehicles at the end of summer making this a great time to buy.
Top bargains: Cars, computers, laptops, college dorm furniture, backpacks, children’s apparel, clearance-priced summer clothing, patio furniture and grills.
Best grocery buys: School lunch snacks and breakfast foods.
September
If you didn’t stock up on school supplies in August, they will be drastically reduced midmonth. It’s also Baby Safety Month so they’ll be sales on gear, apparel and more. Historically, Apple unveils their latest gadgets in September so older models may go on sale.
Top bargains: Baby gear, summer clearance fashion, footwear, furniture, home goods, grills, lawn and garden tools.
Best grocery buys: Peanut butter, jelly, crackers, juice boxes and other lunch box foods; canned soup, bread and Hispanic fare for National Hispanic Heritage Month.
October
The cold weather will begin to creep in and home improvements stores will need make room for snowblowers and shovels. Any leftover lawn tools and patio furniture will be further reduced.
Top bargains: Air conditioners, lawn mowers, garden tools, perennial plants and trees, gas grills, camping gear and school supplies.
Best grocery buys: We celebrate apples, seafood, pizza, cookie and pretzels this month so expect good deals in these categories.
November
The holiday shopping frenzy begins, reaching its peak on Black Friday. There will be rockbottom bargains on televisions, gaming consoles, home appliances and even cars. Consumer Reports noted deep discounts on older model cars on and around Black Friday.
Top bargains: Halloween costumes and candy, electronics, appliances, older Apple products, gaming consoles, video games and vacation getaways offered on Cyber Monday.
Best grocery buys: Baking items, Thanksgiving centerpieces and sides.
December
The end of the year marks the start of big clearance sales, especially on toys and holiday decor. This is also a good time to purchase discounted gift cards.
Top bargains: Toys, games, fall decor, gift cards, holiday decor during post-christmas clearance sales.
Best grocery buys: Seafood, ham and beef for holiday dinners; cookies, crackers, dips and party platters.